Bach Flower Remedies for Pets

Help Your Pets Overcome Their Depression or Anxiety With Bach Flower Remedies

Our pets can get just as depressed or nervous as we do. Lots of situations can bring their sad side out, like the absence or loss of an owner or someone who was close to them. They can get nervous simply from going to the vet or from fireworks outside.

CC image courtesy of Lulu Hoeller on Flickr

Unfortunately, we can't make them understand that the fireworks are harmless and will go away and that only time can cure the sorrow after a beloved one's loss.

If you want to soothe your pet's nerves, TAGS recommends using Bach flower remedies, a natural option to help your pet (or even yourself) overcome such emotions. These remedies were developed by Edward Bach in the 1930s. Bach discovered that the dew found on the petals of flowers contains the healing properties of that plant.

The remedies nowadays are made from spring water infused with wildflowers, and the ones that are safe for animals (alcohol free) are preserved with glycerin. They are considered vibrational medicines and rely on the concept of "water memory." Despite often being labelled as homeopathic, they do not bear the same characteristics.

CC image courtesy of Desi on Flickr

The most common flower remedy is the Rescue Remedy, which is a mix of five Bach flower remedies:

• Star of Bethlehem
• Rock rose
• Cherry plum
• Impatiens
• Clematis

 You can read more about these remedies here.

This is a great and natural solution to help soothe the mind of you and your pets!

Dear TAGS: What's the best method against pulling?

Hilary asked:

I have had a few people recommend a certain way of putting on our dog’s leash to reduce his pulling. Basically it's as follows: run the leash along the dog’s back to its hips; wrap the leash around the dog’s waist under its belly and loop the leash through itself to make a slip tie (it has a special name but I can't remember what!). This technique has worked wonders for us and results in much less pulling; however, my husband is concerned about the pressure of the leash on our dog’s waist/hips. What is your take on this technique? Do you recommend it?

Our certified trainer answered:

To find out if that method of using a leash could harm your dog, you should consult your veterinarian. However, there are many other options available that will most certainly help you keep your dog from pulling.

One of the primary reasons people attend our classes is to address a dog that pulls them off their feet or acts “aggressive” on leash. If you haven’t yet taken an obedience class, you could start with that.

But there are also great tools on the market to help you teach your dog how not to pull. Which one is right for you is a personal decision.

Dog with gentle leader. CC image courtesy of krossbow on Flickr.

I have always used the veterinarian-developed Gentle Leader head halter.  When the Gentle Leader first hit the market, it was sold only through veterinarians and trainers, who would ensure a proper fit for the dog. Now pet stores are selling them, and I have a concern that they are not fit and used properly. The principle behind the Gentle Leader is simple: control the head, control the dog.

Several years ago, anti-pull harnesses hit the market. They offered a different approach. Rather than using a halter-style, the harness was designed to cover the dog’s body to reduce the dog from pulling. They work well, and I have never heard of any issues with them. Again, remember these are special harnesses for teaching dogs not to pull; they are not a regular-style harness, which will make some dogs pull more.

Dusty pulls a lot less with this special type of harness

In the old days, choke collars were used, and we were taught to “correct” the dog by snapping the chain until the dog responded to our command. I would never use a choke collar or a pinch collar! Why would we use tools that can harm our dogs and that most pet owners do not use correctly?

So, ultimately, what is the goal? Most owners are happy to use the tool that eliminates the pulling—end of story. As a trainer, though, I ask, Is your dog learning? Tools should be used to teach your dog. And they must be used correctly. Walks are opportunities for training, challenging and rewarding your pet. Make the most of them!

If you have any questions concerning your pet, send us an email or ask it on Facebook or  Twitter or in the comment section below.

Top 5 Fun Winter Activities to Do With Your Dog

Despite the weather getting colder and colder, make some time to exercise with your dog. When it's mild and calm outside (usually right after it snows), grab your jacket and your dog and get out of the house for some playtime! 

Aside from the usual snowball throwing, there are other creative ways to tire the dog (and yourself) out.

Dawson is up for adoption. Like his photo on Facebook!

1. Hide-'n'-seek. Dogs are just like kids: they love to play hide-'n'-seek. Hide somewhere and call your dog's name until he finds you. It's a good practice for his obedience training, too.

2. Play in the snow. Your dog will find it hilarious to see you lie down and make a snow angel next to him. He will probably want to help you, so watch out for his wet kisses and cold nose!

3. Run. Race to the park with your dog. Dogs love a challenge! They love to get their muscles moving, and they are surely in need of some exercise after being in the house all day.

4. Under the snow. If you have durable, water-repellent gloves, then grab a stick and shove it under the snow. Start moving the stick right under the surface of the snow level so that your dog can see the movement. He'll have great fun trying to catch the mysterious, hidden object!

5. Socialize. Arrange a play date with a friend who also has a dog. Dogs are social beings who like to spend time with fellow furry friends. Let them chase each other and play games while you catch up with your friend!

These simple games do not require any tools that you have to purchase. However, you should always make sure that your dog is warm enough during your playtime, especially if he has short hair. Also, check the roads beforehand to determine whether walking on them is safe for your dog (salt or ice can be dangerous). Have fun!

TAGS Educates

TAGS feels that it's important to always educate people about pets. It seems easy to own a dog or a cat, but there is much more to it. We can always improve ourselves to better understand our furry companions. 

Chappie and Blossum (recently adopted) just graduated! Good job!

Hence, TAGS introduced a Dear TAGS section in the blog where you can send your questions about your dog's or cat's behaviour or any other topic that you might be interested in. Our certified trainers are ready to answer you! Submit your questions here.

TAGS is now officially back from the holiday vacation, which means that we are ready to launch our winter classes! Our first session starts on the 19th of January and is held in our dog park. Don't miss out—you can still apply by emailing us here or calling us at 905-263-TAGS (8247). 

You'll learn how to read your dog's reactions and how to communicate with him more effectively. If you want to read TAGS-approved training tips, please click here.

TAGS will always make sure that your dog feels comfortable and never threatened while being trained. To find out why TAGS disassociates itself from punitive techniques, read this informative blog post.

We'll also have puppy classes at Pet Valu starting on March 7. These classes will be most suitable for puppies of 8-12 weeks, so if you own a newborn dog, you can already mark your calendar for this date! More info will be posted as the date approaches.